Improvement in writing-desks



UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WRITING-DESKS, 84C.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,636, dated November- 18, 1873; application filed September 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL SCHAFER, of Parkersburg, in Wood county, State of West Virginia, have invented a Device for Securing the Contents of Desks, Bureaus, Dressing- Cases, &c., of which the following is a speciiication:

p The object of my invention is to provide a means of combining great security with a high degree of convenience in articles of household and office furniture, for containing books, papers, jewelry, plate, Orother valuables. This object is effected by a combination of various nethods of fastening peculiar to my invention, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and explained in connection with the drawings.

Figure 1 represents a front view of a desk in a closed position constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front view of the same opened and ready for use. Fig. 3 represents a side view with the side drawer opened and swung around to its position parallel with the side of the desk. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section of the same on the line a' of Fig. 3, the pigeon-holes and sliding swinging door being removed. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the revolving tripping-lever, used as a lock to fasten the desk when closed.

The same letters occurring on the different figures represent like parts.

A represents a desk constructed in accordance with my invention, which consists of a combination of drawers, B, C, and d, with a slidingl swinging door, D. B represents a drawer in the Vside of the same, which, when unlocked, slides out and swings on a pivot or hinge, and is thereby brought into a position parallel with the side of the desk, as shown in Fig. 3.l When so unlocked, and brought into position, as above described, the drawer G, in the front, is thereby released, and may be opened.

It will be seen that the drawer B, as usedy in my invention, operates as a bolt, which is shut into a frame or opening in the rear of the drawer C, whereby the latter is securely fastened when said drawer B is closed.` Front drawer C contains an adjustable writing-desk, 7c, which may be used as a substitute for the horizontal top F.

When front drawer C has been fully ex tended the sliding swinging door D in the lower section of the desk may be opened, swung on its pivot to a right angle with its closed position, and slid back into a recess in the desk adapted for that purpose, until it reaches a suitable stop in the rear of the desk.

The manner of opening saiddoorD is as follows: A revolving tripping-lever, a, in said door D, and moved by any suitable means, is made to turn so as to displace perpendicular drop-bolt b, placed behind the vertical sliding upright c. The revolution is continued until the straight edge c, shown inFig. 5, is brought parallel with the door-jamb, thereby releasing the same. To determine when the proper point of revolution of the tripping-lever a is reached to release the door D, an indicator is placed on the front of the upright c, which, in combination with the graduated disk on the door D,

determines the revolution, which may be only known to the person owning or using the desk or other article of furniture.

After the door D has been released and shut into its proper recess the side drawers d may be opened. This is effected by displacing the vertical upright c, the said upright c sliding in grooves at each of its ends, and having a iiange on one side, as shown in Fig. 1, which laps the saiddrawers d, and holds them firmly in position, until said upright c is slid back to a given point, as shown in Fig. 2. The mode of fastening the side drawersd by means of the upright c has this advantage, that the door D cannot be closed until the upright c has been moved so as to overlap the ends of the drawers d, so that when'the door D is shut the side drawers d are necessarily secured.

To lock the door D the revolving trippinglever a is turned until the rectangular space f, as shown in Fig. 5, arrives at a position allowing the perpendicular drop-bolt b to sink into its place, as shown in Fig. 4.

y While, for the purpose of illustrating the embodiment of my invention, I have used a writing-desk, said device is applicable to any piece of household or ofi-lee furniture used as the receptacle of valuables or other articles.

I claim as my invention.

l. The combination ofthe end drawerB, with the front drawer G, operating as a bolt to se cure the latter, substantiallyr as set forth.

2. The sliding upright c, arranged to work in grooves fw, and provided with a ange, c,

in combination with the side drawers d, for operation as specied. Y 

